Building structure



Feb. 12 1924; 1,483,391 B. S. SNOW v BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 23. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 12 1924. 1,483,391

B. 5. Snow BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 23. 1922 4 She'ets-vShe et z /gg 1x0671727 2 5.522020,

A2. :HHH! I nl Hi 7 Patented Feb. 12, 1924.

ilhli 'i'ES BARTON S. SNOKV, OF BATAVIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR {I v'1. SNOW CONSTRUCTION 00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

BUILDING STRUCTURE.

Application filed January 23, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BARTON S. SNOW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Batavia, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful improvement in Building Structures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to storage bins or hoppers for storing material, as for example coal and sand, and more especially to storage bins or hoppers so constructed as to provide for gravity flow of the material therefrom, under the control of the operator. My primary objects are to provide a novel, simple and economical construction of the generalcharacter above referred to, which will be very strong and durable; to provide for the building of such a structure from preformed elements, as for example, and more particularly,.elements preformed from concrete, with a view to reducing the cost of such structures, and permitting them to be rapidly erected and with the expenditure of the minimum amount of labor; and other objects as will be manifest from the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a storage bin constructed in accordance with 1y invention, the storage bin shown being of a type suitabl for use adjacent to railway tracks. Figure 2 is a View in front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1, with the chute portion omitted. Figure 3 is a plan view of the structure of Fig. l, with the roof removed. Figure l is a section taken t the line 4l4ton Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrows. Figure 5 is an enlarged section taken at the line 55 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows. Figure 6 is an enlarged broken section taken at the line 66 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows. lfigure 7 is an enlarged broken view taken the line 'T7 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows. Figure 8 is an enlarged section taken at the, line 88 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows; and Figure 9, an enlarged broken sectional View taken at the line 99 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

The particular construction shown comprises a series of uprights 10 at the rear por lion of the structure and a series of similar uprights 11 at the front portion of the struc- Serial No. 531,255.

ture and extending parallel with the uprights 10. The uprights 10 and 11 which are shown in the drawings as formed of hollow columns and the outer surfaces of which may, if desired, be fluted or otherwise rendered unsmooth as represented by the upper series of columns hereinafter referred to, are supported on a base member represented at 12 which may be the wall of a pit,

columns 10 and 11 as represented more fully in connection with the columns 11, these partitions partially embracing the columns referred to. Surmounting the uprights 10 is a series of girder structures represented at 15, these structures extending parallel with each other and each bearing at its opposite ends upon one of the uprights 1 0 and 11. The ends of the girders 15 are formed with heads 16 ofconsiderably greater height than the depth of the body portions of the girders 15, the latter being formed with strengthening webs 1? connecting the body portions of the girders and the heads 16. The heads 16 contain vertically-disposed openings extending entirely therethrough, these openings being'restricted between their ends, to afford the openings 18 of one diameter and the openings 19 and20 of larger diameter, there being afforded at the juncture of the openings 18 with the openings 19 and 20, the annular shoulders 21 and 22 respectively. In the assembled position of the girders 15 and columns 10 and 11, these columns extend at their upper ends into the openings 19 in theheads 16, the girders 15 seating upon these columns at the shoulders 21. The girders are preferably. of the H-type in cross-section, affording a centrally-disposed web 23 and upper and lower flanges 24: and 25 forming channels 26 and 27 along the opposite sides of the girders 15. The entire structure is braced through the medium of cross-members 28 located within the channels of the girders 15 and arranged in two series, with the cross-bars of each series hhlaligning with each other, at the front and rear of the structure, bolts 29 passing through the webs 23 of the various girders and lengthwise through the cross-members 28 and securely clamping the girders and cross-members together.

The structure also comprises series of uprights represented at 30 and 31 shown as in the form of columns and preferably fluted, as represented at 30 and 31*, or otherwise suitably roughened. The uprights 30 extend at their lower ends into the openings 20 in the heads 16 at the rear ends of the girders and the lower ends of the uprights 31 extend into the openings in the heads 16 at the forward ends of the girders 15, whereby the uprights and 31 are in vertical alignment with the uprights 1.0 and 11 respectively. Associated with the-uprights 30 and 31 are members 32 and 33, respectively,'which extend toward each other and in planes parallel with the girders 15, the surfaces of the members 32 which oppose the members 33 containing grooves extending lengthwise thereof, as represented at The upper surfaces of the girders 15 are also grooved lengthwise thereof, as represented at 35, the grooves 34 and 35 being provided for a purpose hereinafter explained.

Located between the opposingones of the uprights 30 and 31 and arranged in a horizontal series, are truss members, represented at 36, which, in the arrangement shown, are of triangular shape and extend in upright position parallel with each other. Each truss 36 is provided along its lower edge with a tongue 37, these tongues extending into, and interlocking with, the grooves 35 in the girders 15; and along its rear upright wall with a tongue 38, these tongues extending into, and interlocking with, the grooves 34 in the members 32. The trusses 36 form the support for the inclined floor of the bin and represented generally at 39 and of a construction hereinafter described. The end walls of the bin of which the part 39 is the floor, are formed of two trusses 40 shown as of general triangular shape, between the longer inclined sides of which and the longer inclined sides of the two outside trusses 36, the floor 39 extends, the trusses 40 being aligned with the two outside trusses 36, and being provided with tongues 41 and 42 on their forward upright edges and the top edges thereof, respectively. Located between the forward edges of the trusses 4-0 and the vertical members 33, is the front wall of the bin, this wall being formed of two lower plate-like sections 43 which are supported at side edges thereof on the girders 15 to extend crosswise thereof, these sections being arranged in aligning position but spaced apart at their adjacent ends to provide an opening 44 located substantially midway between the sides of the bin, the rear surfaces of the sections 43 containing vertically-extending grooves 45 into which the lower portions of the tongues 41 on the sec tions 40 extend, and with which they interlock, the ends of the sections 43 adjacent the intermediate ones of the uprights 31, be ing held in place as hereinafter described. The front wall section referred to also comprises a vertical series of sections 46 rest ing one upon the other in edge to edge relation and superposed on the sections 43, the sections 46 extending entirely across the space between the trusses 40 and containing upwardly-extending grooves 47 at the rear surfaces of the thickened end portions thereof, into which the tongues 41 on the trusses 40 extend, and with which they interlock. The opening 44 is preferably bounded at its sides by blocks 48 which contain bolts 43 securing a chute 100 in place thereon and communicating with the interior of the hopper, the chute having trunnions 100 for pivotally supporting thereon an apron (not shown) in accordance with common practice. The bottom of the bin is shown as of general hopper shape and comprises the members 49 presenting the downwardly-converging portions 50 which extend from the inclined wall portion 39 in a forward direction, to a point closely adjacent the front wall of the bin as shown more particularly in Fig. 3, the members 49 being spaced apart at their forward ends in line with the opening 44 as represented more particularly in the lastreferred-to figure. lVhen the members 49 are set into place they engage the rear surfaces of the ends of the sections 43 adjacent the opening 44 and serve to hold these sections firmly in position against the intermediate ones of the uprights 31.

The uprights 30 and 31 at the corners of the structure are connected together at their upper ends by the beam-like members 51 and 52, these members forming a rectangular frame-like structure, the members 51 being located at the sides of the structure and the members 52 extending across the front and rear thereof. The ends of the members 51 are mitered at their upper surfaces, as represented at 53, and the ends of the members 52 are mitered at their under surfaces, as represented at 54, these sections interfitting with each other at the mutually mitered portions referred to to thereby form an in terlock between these sect-ions and to cause the surfaces of these sections at the upper and under sides thereof to extend substantially flush with each other as shown. In the particular arrangement shown wherein the members 51 and 52 are formed of concrete, the mitered ends of these sections contain vertically-extending centrally-disposed openings therethrough into which the up per ends of the columns 30 and 31 extend, the members 51 and 52 servingto brace the columns and strengthen the structure.

The roof portion of the bin may be of any desirable construction and, as shown,

is'formed of side Walls 57 of general triangular shape, and upwardly-converging front and rear roof-sections 58 and 59, respectively, connected with the sidewalls, the roof structure restingupon, and secured in any desirable way to, the frame-like structure formed of the sections 51 and 52. The floor 39 of the bin maybe formed in any desirable manner, but, as shown, it comprises a series of edge-to-edge extending sections 60 which extend at their ends between the op posing inclined edges of the trusses 36 and 40 at the ends of the bin structure, and extend across the inclined edges of the intermediate ones of the trusses 36. The sections 60 are preferably provided at their ends with ribs 61 at which they extend outwardly beyond the side walls of the bin and formed bf the outermost ones of the trusses 36 and the trusses 40, to form interlocks therewith preventing horizontal displacement of the sections 60, the latter being preferably so disposed that the ribs .61 of alternate ones of the sections 60 overlap the outermost ones of the trusses 36 and the ribs 61 on the other of these sections overlap the outer surfaces of the trusses 40, as more clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 9.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of my invention the various parts described, except the bolts 29 and 48 and, if desired, the roof structure, are formed of concrete, the various parts, except the members 32 and 33, being preferably pre-cast, as for example in a factory, whereby the use of forms for molding the concrete on the job for these parts, is avoided, and the structure may be quickly erected at its pointofuse.

In forming the various members and sections they would, by preference, be reenforced with metal, with a view to providing the desired strength of structure, with the minimum amount'of concrete, the various reenforcing rodsemployed being represented in the drawings in accordance with the usual In con-v way of indicating reenforcement. nection with the floor sections 60, it may be stated that these sections are shown as containing reenforcing rods represented at 62 which preferably extend the full length of these sections and are deflected at their ends into hooks 63 which extend closely adjacent the outer ends of these sections.

In the erecting of the structure shown, the columns 10 and 11 may have filled into them, if desired and as shown, any suitable cementitious mixture up to a point short of their upper ends, and thereafter dowels or plugs vided with a tapered portion between their ends, as represented at 64*, which fit correspondingly reversely tapered portions of the openings through the girders 15. The lower ends of the columns 30 and 31 in the assembling thereof with the girders 15 to extend into the openings 20 in the latter, would fit over the upper ends of the dowels 64 all as represented in Fig. 8, and the interiors of the columns 30 and 31 may be filled, if desired, with any desirable cementitious material which preferably would extend therein throughout the height of these columns. The trusses 36 and 40 and members 60, 43 and 46 would be then assembled to the position shown, and the members 32 v and 33 then cast in position. To form the members 32 and 33 any suitable mold boards may be applied to a position in which they extend at opposite sides of the space in which the members 32 and 33 are to be. formed and W the cementitious material from which they are to be formed filled into the spaces between the mold boards, the weight of the material causing wedging against the parts with which it contacts and forcing the several parts into firm engagement with each other.

It will be understood from the foregoing that a structure formed as explained, is not only very substantial, but may be constructed relatively economically and with the further advantages hereinbefore stated.

Furthermore, the columns, trusses, girders and members 43, 46 and 60, are interchangeable, permitting the various members referred to, to be carried in stock and supplied to the desired number for installations as required, which greatly reduces cost of construction and expedites the installing of the structures. It will also be noted that many of the elements described may be used in theconstructing of bins of different capacities, as distinguished from requiring; diiferent shapes or dimensions of parts for different sized bins. Thus where it is desired to provide a bin of greater length than that shown, the columns, girders, trusses and end members 51 would be the same in size and construction, and the members 46, 60, 43, 52 and 49 only need be dif ferent than in the construction shown, the difference required being only in length in the case of the members 4, 60, 43 and 52, and shape as to the members 49.

While the floor 39 of the bin is shown as extending continuously throughout the same plane from its upper rear edge to its lower front edge, whereby the discharge of the bin is at the front side thereof only, it will be readily understood that if desired,

I -&

the floor referred to may be formed to provide downwardly diverging portions for directing the material charged into the bin, to both the forward and rear sides of the bin, in which case these sides of the bin would be each provided with an outlet controllable as desired, the sections forming the ends of the bin being suitably shaped to adapt such flooring to be used.

If desired the filling of the cementitious material into the columns may be dispensed with the taper of the dowels 64L preventing them from becoming displaced.

While I have illustrated and described a particular construction embodying my invention, andhave suggested a certain modification thereof, I donot wish to, be understood as intending thereby to limit my invention, as the structure may be otherwise variously modified and altered without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

v1. A building structure comprising a series of girders, truss-members of angular shape supported in upright condition on said girders, and a floor and side-wall-forming members supported on said girders.

2. A building structure comprising a series of girders, truss-members of angular shape supported in upright condition on said girders, and an inclined floor, and sidewall-forming members supported on said girders.

3. A building structure comprising a series of girders, truss-members of angular shape supported in upright condition on said girders to extend lengthwise thereof, and a floor and side-wall-forming members supported on said girders.

4. A building structure comprising a. series of girders, truss-members supported on said girders inupright position, said girders and members having interengag'ing parts, and a floor and sidewall-forming members supported on said girders.

5. A building structure comprising a series of suitably supported truss members presenting inclined surfaces, an inclined floor section supported on the inclined surfaces of said trusses, and end-wall-forming members having inclined surfaces supported at their inclined surfaces on said floor-section.

6. A building structure comprising a series ofsuitably supported triangular trussmembers with their longer edges extending in an inclined direction, an inclined floor section supported on the inclined surfaces of said trusses, and end-wall-forming tri angular members with their longer edges fiatwise opposing the longer edges of said trusses with said floor-section interposed therebetween.

7. A building structure comprising a series of suitably supported truss members presenting inclined surfaces, an inclined floor section supported on the inclined surfaces of said trusses, and end-wall-forming members having inclined surfaces supported at their inclined surfaces on said floor-section, said floor section being formed of edge wise-extending sections having ribs at their ends overlapping the outer sides of the structure, certain of said ribs overlapping said trusses and others said end-wall-forming members.

8. A building structure comprising a series of suitably supported truss members presenting inclined surfaces, an inclined floor section supported on the inclined surfaces of said trusses, and end-walLforming members having inclined surfaces supported at their inclined surfaces on said floor-section, said floor section being formed of edgewise-extending sections having ribs at their ends overlapping the outer sides of the structure, alternate ones of said ribs overlapping said trusses and the others overlapping said endwall-forming members.

9; A building structure comprising series of columns, side-walls extending therebetween, said side-walls and said columns having inter-engaging parts, and front and rear walls, one of said walls extending crosswise of said sidewalls and interposed between columns of one of said series and said sidewalls.

10. A building structure comprising series of columns, side-walls extending therebetween, said side-walls and said columns having inter-engaging parts, and front and rear walls, one of said walls extending crosswise of said side-Walls and interposed between columns of one of said series and said sidewalls and interlocked with the latter.

11. A building structure comprising series of columns, a series of girders into the ends of which said columns extend, series of columns extending at their lower ends into said girders, and in vertical alignment with said first-referred-to series of columns, dowels extending through said girders and into the upper and lower columns, and a receptacleforming structure mounted on said girders and engaging said upper series of columns.

12. A building structure comprising series of columns, a series of girders supported thereon, a series of triangular members supported on said girders, the members at the sides of the structure and the girders beneath having inter-engaging parts and said last-referred-to members and certain of said columns having inter-engaging parts, the longer sides of said triangular members inclining, sidewall-forming triangular members, the longer edges of which oppose the longer edges of said first-referred-to triangular members, said side-wall-forming members and others of said columns having inter-engaging parts, and said triangular members being interposed between said columns, and aninclined floor section extending between the opposed inclined surfaces of said triangular members.

13. A building structure comprising series of columns, side-wall-forming members therebetween, and members located between and interlocked with, said columns and said sidewall-forming members, said columns and said last-referred-to members being precast and said second-referTed-to members being cast from ceinentitious material into position as stated.

let. A building structure comprising series columns, members extending crosswise thereof, a receptacle-forming member supported from said columns and members, and a frame-like structure at the upper ends of said columns containing recesses into which the upper ends of said columns extend.

15. A building structure comprising series of columns, members extending crosswise thereof, a receptacle-forming member supported from said columns and members, and a frame-like structure at the upper ends: of said columns and into which the upper ends of said columns extend, said frame-like structure being formed of members overlapped at their ends, the upper ends and containing recesses at their overlapped ends of said columns extending into said recesses.

16. A building structure comprising a series of girders, truss-members of angular shape supported in upright condition on said girders to extend lengthwise thereof, a floor and side=wall-forming members supported on said girders, said side-wall-forming members extending between said columns and said side-wall-forming members and said columns being separate structures and having interfitting tongue and groove portions.

17. A. building structure comprising a series of columns, side walls extending there between, said side walls being spaced each at one end from the adjacent column, and a front wall extending crosswise of said side walls and into the spaces between said side walls and said columns.

18. A building structure comprising a series of columns, side walls extending therebetween, said side walls being spaced each at one end from the adjacent column, and a front wall extending crosswise of said side walls and into the spaces between said side walls and said columns and interlocked with said side walls.

BARTON S. SNOW. 

